Reading to Therapy Dogs
For aspiring readers, reading out loud can be intimidating. However, reading to a specially trained Therapy Dog is different. The dog does not judge, correct, rush or worry if a student gets every word right. Canine Inspired Change's Read to Therapy Dogs program gives children and emerging readers the opportunity to practice reading aloud alongside CIC’s Therapy Dog Reading Teams in a welcoming, low-pressure environment.
CIC is proud to partner with schools, libraries and other organizations to support literacy in our community.
Why read to a therapy dog?
Presence of a friendly dog reduces blood pressure in kids who are asked to read aloud.
For some children, reading aloud to another person can bring anxiety, self-consciousness, or fear of making mistakes. A calm, attentive dog can provide a different kind of reading audience. Reading to a therapy dog can give children an opportunity to:
Practice reading aloud in a relaxed, supportive setting
Build confidence and comfort with reading
Spend more time actively engaged with a book
Practice fluency, accuracy, and expression
Develop positive associations with reading
Read at their own pace without feeling judged
Experience the joy of sharing a story with a dog
Dogs are a non-evaluative presence that provides support and comfort to readers without judging them.
Research on reading-to-dog programs is still developing, but studies have found promising associations with reading engagement, motivation, on-task behavior, and measures of reading performance. Many teachers report that students participating in reading programs become more confident in the classroom setting - raising their hands more than before! But, one thing that research doesn’t measure is the size of the smile on a striving reader’s face when they finish their session reading to a dog.
Kindergarten students participating in Therapy Dog reading programs have significantly higher reading scores than those without.
Bring Therapy Dogs to Your Organization
As of September 2026, CIC is working to train Therapy Dog teams and finalize programming options. If your organization would like to be one of the first to hear about details, please fill out the form below to have a meeting with a member of our team. Once details are finalized, they will be updated here.
Read to Therapy Dogs at CIC HQ in St Paul, MN
Bring your aspiring reader to CIC Reading Events on weeknights and weekends for the opportunity to read to a specially trained Therapy Dog. These events are free to our community and open to children ages 6 and up, just sign up to secure your spot. Space is limited to ensure all students get a chance to participate! Any reading level is encouraged to join. CIC will provide books, but children are encouraged to bring their own if they wish!
Upcoming Read to Therapy Dog Dates:
Saturday October 15th, 2026 from 2:30 to 3:30pm
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026 from 4:00 to 6:00pm
More dates coming soon!
Sign Up:
Bring your aspiring reader to CIC Reading Events on weeknights and weekends for the opportunity to read to a specially trained Therapy Dog. These events are free to our community and open to children ages 6 and up, just sign up to secure your spot. Any reading level is encouraged to join. CIC will provide books, but children are encouraged to bring their own if they wish!
FAQ:
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This program targets K - 3rd grade, however, is open to anyone under 18 years of age who wish to continue their love of literacy with CIC Therapy Dogs.
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Average read time will be 20 minutes of time with a Therapy Dog. The first few minutes will be introductions and learning about the therapy dog, and then reading for about 15-20 minutes Each dog needs a quick break between students. Depending on the amount of children signed up, there may be a short wait time before reading to a dog, or a shorter read time to allow all children a chance to read.
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CIC Therapy Dogs come in all shapes and sizes! We have reading dogs as small as yorkies and as large as great danes. However, each Therapy Dog team in attendance is volunteering their time, so there is no guarantee what dogs will be at a particular session. If your child has a specific need, please speak with the CIC Lead before they are placed with a dog.
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Children under 8 years of age must have direct parent/guardian supervision, and you will be required to remain in the same room. (Parents may find their student reads more enthusiastically without their guardian right next to them, so sitting off to the side of the room is perfectly fine!)
Children over 8 years of age may not need direct supervision. If your child is comfortable participating independently, you're welcome to wait in the CIC office or your vehicle. We simply ask that you remain nearby in case you're needed.
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Students are welcome to bring a favorite book from home, or they can choose from a variety of books available at CIC. We have a small library we are happy to share for the reading session! Any type of book can be read to dogs; especially for budding readers, it’s just important to practice, practice, practice!
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Read to Therapy Dogs is at CIC HQ in St Paul, MN. CIC is just off University Ave near HWY 280 & I94, close to the Raymond Avenue Green Line stop.
The address is: 2300 Myrtle Ave Suite 230, St Paul, MN 55114
Click here for parking information.
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Support Literacy with Canine Inspired Change
There are many ways to support literacy with Canine Inspired Change!
Make a donation!
Your donation allows CIC to continue programming in the Twin Cities area.
Donate books!
According to the US Department of Education, up to 61 percent of low-income families do not have any books for their kids at home. By donating books to CIC, we are able to provide reading materials to those children, as well as provide books for our community events and partnerships. Books can be mailed/delivered to CIC HQ: 2300 Myrtle Ave Suite 230, St Paul, MN 55114.
Become a Therapy Dog Reading Team with CIC!
Have a special interest in literacy? Become a Therapy Dog with CIC and take the specialized literacy dog training class.
Share CIC programming with an organization you love!
Know an organization within the community that would benefit from CIC Reading Dogs? Share our information with them and get the ball rolling!